Trying Edibles For The First Time? Check Out Our Beginners Guide

Joe Urso

Edibles: The Beginners Guide

You want to try your first edible? Maybe you’ve smoked before, maybe you haven’t. Either way, the edible experience is going to be a new experience. “No it won’t. I’ve been smoking doobs for over a year man!” you may be saying, but I’m sorry to inform you, science disagrees. When you smoke, you get high by turning THCa ( tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) into Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. You do this by a process called Decarboxylation a.k.a heating or burning the cannabis. When you eat an edible, however, there is no Decarboxylation. Instead, your liver processes the THCa, and turns it into a compound called 11-Hydroxy-THC ( 11-Hydroxy-Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol). As you can see, this compound is technically an entirely different chemical!

So, whether or not you have smoked cannabis before, you need to know a few things about eating an edible, which is why I have made this helpful little list. Enjoy!

Don’t make the edible yourself

Since this is your first edible, you want to make sure the dosage is controlled. It is very hard to do this when you’re making one in your own kitchen. The strength of the edible will depend on the strain’s THC content and the amount of cannabis used, something an average Joe won’t be able to figure out on their own. Instead, buy your first edible from a trusted and respected dispensary!

Eat a low dose

5-10 milligrams tops. This is your first experience with edibles, so you definitely don’t want it to be a bad one. I am a seasoned edible consumer, but I made the mistake of eating too large of a dose last week. I ended up sitting in the fetal position on my couch for over three hours, literally unable to move, crippled from fear and paranoia. Seriously, not fun at all. If that happens on your first edible, you may hate cannabis forever!

Do not eat more if you don’t feel an immediate effect

Depending on your metabolism, the edible can take up to 2-3 hours to digest. If you get impatient after an hour and decide to eat more, you may end up in the fetal position on a couch for three hours (see tip 2). Worst comes to worst, your first edible experience is weak, and you try a slightly higher dose the next time.

Eat your first edible in a safe and comfortable place

The high from an edible can be intense the first time you consume one. That is why you should make sure you are in a safe place, with someone you trust when you do. You definitely don’t want your high to turn bad because of a stranger or an unexpected situation.

When consumed properly, edibles can be one of the most satisfying ways to enjoy cannabis. The high is strong and long lasting, leaving you feeling relaxed, calm, and medicated. Make the right decisions, and enjoy your first time!

By Joe Urso

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